Marilyn and Silvio Sagnella of Hamden recalled: “On alternating Tuesdays in the summer, the New Haven Pops under the direction of Harry Berman would perform at the Yale Bowl, weather permitting. If the concert was ‘on,’ a flag would fly outside the second floor of the Edward Malley department store.”

“The overture every evening was ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ and the closing song was ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’ These concerts were held in the late ’40s and into the ’50s. Seats were all general admission: $2.00.”

Alton Eliason of Northford emailed to say he operated the Palace Academy of Health over the Loew’s Theater on Church Street. “Next to the theater entrance was ‘Nickel Charlie’s.’ It was so narrow there weren’t any tables, just a long counter. Everyone called it ‘Nickel Charlie’s’ because of its 5-cent cups of coffee. My wife loved their chow mein sandwich that sold for 15 cents or a quarter — I can’t remember which and neither can she, now 101 and I at 99. I never patronized it since my mother told me it would stunt my growth.”

Eliason said they had many business friends downtown, including Bill Horowitz, who with his brother owned Horowitz Brothers on Chapel Street.

Dorothy White Gemmell, a member of Hillhouse High School’s class of 1952, noted the school was then on Tower Parkway. “There was an alley (where we would sneak out to smoke) and it led to York Street. From there many students would make their way to George and Harry’s restaurant on Wall Street or to Temple Street and Tasty Toasty’s.”

Ruth Meoli called to say that she, her mother and grandmother often rode the bus (or the trolley, she’s not sure which) from Branford to New Haven’s Chapel Street to go to the Bell Spa. “They had the best Coney Island hot dogs! I’ve never been able to get them again.”

Ernie Mazza, now 81, recalled in an email the delights of the Arena Grille, next to the New Haven Arena. His uncle, Joe Small, owned the eatery, and Ernie’s parents worked there.

He said the customers who came in included a boxing promoter named Charlie Brown, who handled boxers for the Arena. “He brought in Joe Louis for an exhibition bout and Sugar Ray Robinson and Rocky Graziano, who both KO’d their opponents.”

Several readers cited the Old Heidelberg on Chapel Street. Mark Wimmer noted customers were greeted by name at the door “and some of the waitresses were part of the family.”

Willie Dow, who previously compiled a long list of old businesses for a New Haven Register op-ed, added a few more, including: the Waldorf Cafeteria at High and Chapel streets, now the site of the Yale Center for British Art; and the Marshall House at the corner of Wall and Church streets. “It was open 24 hours a day and they had great waffles.”

Dow continued: “There was a guy who used to have a cart on the New Haven Green where he popped popcorn and you could feed it to the pigeons. And there was a guy named ‘Wimpy’ who sold the Register and the Journal-Courier at the corner of Church and Chapel in front of Liggett Rexall Pharmacy.”

Robert Oravec of Branford sent me two hand-written letters loaded with memories. His many images include the wooden escalator at the Kresge’s department store downtown and an X-ray machine at Thom McAn’s shoe store, “so you could see how your shoes fit.”

Claire Dunaj of East Haven said her “favorite eateries of the past” were the Orange Platter for its fabulous grilled cheese sandwiches and Kasey’s restaurant: “The first time I ever had chicken Kiev and sadly have never seen it on any other menu.”

Dr. Margretta Seashore sent me photos of spoons given to her by Myer Forman’s daughter at his recent funeral. Seashore said her family lived across the street from the Formans on Colony Road in New Haven. “The spoons came from the shop he had on Chapel Street in the ’60s, the House of Hasselbach.”

She added, “This is just one of many examples of how New Haven is a city whose neighborhoods create fellowship, friendship and caring for each other. Beaver Hills is one such neighborhood; was then and still is now.”

Rick Kaletsky of Bethany sent me a detailed email about working as a “bus boy” at Chuck’s Lunchette on Whalley Avenue in 1964-65. He was paid $1.10 an hour “and all I could eat.”

“Chuck’s real name was Alvin Alpert; his wife, Marjie, was the redhead who worked the register. Chuck yelled a lot and generally smoked a cigar. Marjie and the waitresses were immune to the yelling but something just shook their heads. Most customers seemed to enjoy the sometimes hectic ambience, including the yelling.”

Kaletsky added, “On Saturday night the pastrami special was a big deal. The chocolate pudding was outstanding because it was cooked My-T-Fine with heavy skin (yummy, especially with whipped cream or a little liquid cream!).”

OK, is everybody’s mouth watering? I fondly remember Chuck’s and his cigar and yelling.

Thanks again to everybody for all of the correspondence. Don’t worry, we’ll do this again sometime soon.